Productivity Software FAQ

How does billing work for Amazon WorkSpaces?

You can pay for your Amazon WorkSpaces either by the hour or by the month. There are no upfront fees or term commitments. The fees include the use of infrastructure, such as compute, storage, and bandwidth for streaming the desktop experience, as well as the software applications listed in the bundle.

How much does an Amazon WorkSpace cost?

Please refer to the pricing page for the latest information on Amazon WorkSpaces pricing.

Can I pay for my Amazon WorkSpaces by the hour?

Yes, you can pay for your Amazon WorkSpaces by the hour. Hourly pricing is available for all WorkSpaces bundles and in all AWS regions where Amazon WorkSpaces is offered.

How does hourly pricing work for Amazon WorkSpaces?

Hourly pricing consists of two components: an hourly usage fee and a low monthly fee for fixed infrastructure costs. Hourly usage fees are only incurred while your Amazon WorkSpaces are actively being used or undergoing routine maintenance. When your WorkSpaces are not being used, they will automatically stop after a specified period of inactivity, and hourly metering is suspended. Charges resume when the WorkSpaces are used again.

How do I get started with hourly billing for my Amazon WorkSpaces?

To launch an Amazon WorkSpace to be billed hourly, select a user, choose a bundle, and specify the AutoStop running mode. When the WorkSpace is created, it will be billed hourly.

What is the difference between monthly pricing and hourly pricing for Amazon WorkSpaces?

Monthly pricing involves a fixed monthly fee for unlimited usage and instant access to a running WorkSpace at all times. Hourly pricing allows you to pay for your WorkSpaces by the hour and save money on your AWS bill when users only need part-time access. Hourly billed WorkSpaces automatically stop after a period of inactivity, while monthly billed WorkSpaces are always available.

How do I select hourly billing or monthly billing for my Amazon WorkSpaces?

Amazon WorkSpaces offers two running modes: AutoStop and AlwaysOn. The AlwaysOn running mode is used for monthly billing, providing high availability and instant access to desktops. The AutoStop running mode is used for hourly billing, allowing users to wait for around 2 minutes to start streaming desktops with sporadic use. You can easily choose between monthly and hourly billing by selecting the running mode when launching WorkSpaces.

When do I incur charges for my Amazon WorkSpace when paying by the hour?

Hourly usage fees start accruing as soon as your Amazon WorkSpace is running. Charges are incurred when the WorkSpace is actively used or undergoing maintenance.

When do I stop incurring charges for my Amazon WorkSpaces when paying by the hour?

Hourly usage charges are suspended when your Amazon WorkSpaces stop. AutoStop automatically stops WorkSpaces after a specified period of inactivity or when scheduled maintenance is completed. The specified time period is configurable. Note that partial hours are billed as a full hour, and the monthly portion of hourly pricing does not suspend when WorkSpaces stop.

Can I force hourly charges to suspend sooner?

You can manually stop Amazon WorkSpaces from the AWS Management Console or using the Amazon WorkSpaces APIs. To stop the monthly fee associated with hourly WorkSpaces, you need to remove the WorkSpaces from your account, which also deletes all data stored in those WorkSpaces.

Can I switch between hourly and monthly billing?

Yes, you can switch between hourly and monthly billing for your Amazon WorkSpaces at any time. Switching from hourly to monthly billing immediately changes the billing method, and you are charged a prorated amount based on the remainder of the month. Your WorkSpaces will continue to be charged monthly unless you switch back to hourly billing. Similarly, switching from monthly to hourly billing takes effect the following month, and your WorkSpaces will continue to be charged hourly unless you switch back to monthly billing.

If I don’t use my Amazon WorkSpace for the full month, are the fees prorated?

If you are paying monthly, your Amazon WorkSpaces are charged for the full month’s usage. If you are paying hourly, you are charged for the hours during which your WorkSpaces are running or undergoing maintenance, along with a monthly fee for fixed infrastructure costs. In both cases, the monthly fee is prorated in the first month only.

Will I be charged the low monthly fee associated with hourly billing if I don’t use my Amazon WorkSpaces in a given month?

Yes, you will be charged a small monthly fee for the Amazon WorkSpaces bundle you selected, even if you do not use the WorkSpaces in a particular month. If you selected a Plus bundle, you will also be charged for the software subscription.

How are the Plus software bundles charged when I pay hourly for my Amazon WorkSpaces?

Plus bundles are always charged monthly, even if you are paying for your Amazon WorkSpaces by the hour. If you selected a Plus bundle, you will incur the listed fee for the Plus software bundle, even if you do not use the WorkSpaces in a particular month.

Will I be able to monitor how many hours my Amazon WorkSpaces have been running?

Yes, you can monitor the total number of hours your Amazon WorkSpaces have been running in a given period of time through the Amazon CloudWatch “UserConnected” metric.

Does Amazon WorkSpaces pricing include bandwidth costs?

Amazon WorkSpaces pricing includes network traffic between the user’s client and their WorkSpace. Web traffic from WorkSpaces, such as accessing the public Internet or downloading files, will be charged separately based on current AWS EC2 data transfer rates.

How will I be charged for Amazon WorkSpaces that I launch based on a custom image?

There is no additional charge for Amazon WorkSpaces created from custom images. You will be charged the same as the underlying bundles on which the customized images are based.

Can I use custom images for Amazon WorkSpaces that are billed hourly?

Yes, you can launch Amazon WorkSpaces billed hourly from images that you create and upload. There is no additional charge for Amazon WorkSpaces launched from custom images. You will be charged the same as the underlying bundles on which the customized images are based.

Is there a charge to use Amazon WorkSpaces client applications?

The Amazon WorkSpaces client applications are provided at no additional cost. You can install the clients on as many devices as you need to. You can access the clients here.

Is there an additional charge to access Amazon WorkSpaces using web access?

There is no additional charge to access Amazon WorkSpaces using web access. For hourly billed WorkSpaces, you will continue to be billed for the time you leave a browser tab open with an actively running WorkSpace.

Can I use tags to obtain usage and cost details for Amazon WorkSpaces on my AWS monthly billing report?

Yes, you can use tags to include usage and cost details for Amazon WorkSpaces on your AWS monthly billing report. By setting tags to appear on your monthly Cost Allocation Report, you can easily track costs according to your needs. Assign tags to your WorkSpaces and select the tag keys to include in your cost allocation report.

Are there any costs associated with tagging Amazon WorkSpaces?

There are no additional costs associated with tagging Amazon WorkSpaces.

What are the requirements for schools, universities, and public institutions to reduce their WorkSpaces licensing?

Schools, universities, and public institutions may qualify for reduced WorkSpaces licensing fees. Please reference the Microsoft Licensing Terms and Documents for qualification requirements. If you think you may qualify, please create a case with the AWS support center. We will review your information and work with you to reduce your fees and costs.

What do I need to provide to qualify as a school, university, or public institution?

To qualify as a school, university, or public institution, you will need to provide AWS with your institution’s full legal name, principal office address, and public website URL. AWS will use this information to qualify you for reduced user fees for qualified educational institutions with your WorkSpaces. Please note that the use of Microsoft software is subject to Microsoft’s terms, and you are responsible for complying with Microsoft licensing.

Does qualification for Amazon WorkSpaces reduced user fees affect other AWS cloud services?

No, qualification for reduced user fees for Amazon WorkSpaces does not affect any other AWS cloud services or licenses you have.

Is there a charge for streaming data between my WorkSpaces and end users’ devices?

The charges for the Service include the cost of streaming data between your WorkSpaces and end users’ devices. However, if you stream via VPN, you will be charged VPN data transfer rates in addition to any applicable Internet data transfer charges. Other WorkSpace data transfer will be charged using Amazon EC2 data transfer pricing.